Across the Nullabor (Newsletter Vol. 1, No.1)
Well, here we are driving along the highway across the Nullabor at this point I can look into the distance and see the road stretching ahead. It is quite hot and windy. (last time we were here it was cold and windy, maybe it’s always windy) Every now and then the road widens into a Royal Flying Doctor plane strip. Yes, the Nullabor is flat for miles and miles but also there are areas with hills to the right as you travel west at these times we feel we are on coastal plans.
Let me go back a moment to Broken Hill and God’s hand in the day we stayed there.
To keep the story short, 2 young women called to pick us up for tea, forgot to lock the car and both had their handbags were stolen. During the afternoon I had cooked up a large pot of stew as we are in and out of Fruit Fly exclusion zones and I thought it would be handy to have. Well after an evening of making sure their homes were secure, reports made to Police and looking for the bags in the cemetery next to the park in case they were tossed, we were all cold and able to sit down at 9.30pm and enjoyed piping hot stew, cooked apples and custard. Praise God for his provision as I wouldn’t have been able to feed them without the precooked food.
Unfortunately Judy has not been well but last Saturday met with Dr Max (a lovely Nigerian man) a locum at Ceduna Hospital and got her asthma medication sorted out. The reason for telling you this is to again tell of God’s goodness in the little things. Whilst lingering in bed this morning before embarking on the day Judy felt alone and separated from those she loves, this was compounded by the fact that to talk with other travelers caused a sever coughing attack. Whilst SHE (in her own power) was trying to work out a solution God quietly reminded her that he would provide all her needs and he did.
During the morning Lea rang and at Mundrabilla Roundhouse, we had a time of talking with a truck driver who was on a 2 day layover. We also met and talked with another truck Driver who had is wife + 9 week old baby boy Phillip traveling with him. Why do we doubt God’s grace?
It is now 12.29pm WA time that is 2.29pm Sydney time and we have filled up with fuel 1.24c per litre, not bad, we have learnt where to buy the cheep fuel on the Nullabor, other Roadhouses are 151.9c per litre. Except for Mundrabilla all the roadhouses are own by the same company although they trade under different brands, Mundrabilla is owned by SAFF. Ian’s estimate of $100 a day for fuel has been blowen out of the water as we are using at least 100 litres of fuel each day.
At this moment we are being passed by 5 Road Trains, 2 trailers each. The road is busy with these trucks today as it is WA’s Foundation Day Public Holiday and they can’t get into Perth until tomorrow so I guess there’s a backlog of trucks on the road.
As the day unfolds God gives you opportunities to show his love. With the anonymity of the road it is easy to get alongside fellow travelers for a moment in time. We connected with Phillip and his parents again at Caiguna. We had stopped for the day they were traveling on to Kalgoorlie. So came the chance for a chat, Judy with Phillips mum as she feed him, Ian outside with the truck drivers.
At Penong we met people involved in the Royal Flying Doctor Car Bash. They are traveling to Esperence for the start and will be arriving in Newman about 3 days after us.
One of the guys is good mates with the Chemist from Winton, what a small world.
Point of interest is that on leaving Caiguna and traveling west there is 147 km of straight road.
We have arrived at Norseman so it is straight up north from here to Newman.
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